Mumbai crime: Senior citizen helps nab fake tantrik

A senior citizen helped the Malad police arrest a 45-year-old tantrik who allegedly cheated people on the pretext of giving ayurvedic treatment and performing spiritual healings, on Monday, post which more victims are coming forward.

Ghanshyamdas Gupta who helped nab the tantrik

The accused, identified as Mohammad Sakam Rafik Sheikh, hailed from Rajasthan and mostly targeted handicapped or paralysed patients who were ready to spend money on their recovery. Sheikh used 15 types of blades on a patient to cut the skin and take 100 ml of blood to use for his ‘spiritual practice’, which, he claimed, would cure the disease permanently.

Something’s fishyGhanshyamdas Gupta, a Malad resident, was almost convinced that the tantric could cure him of his partial paralysis due to which he could not walk properly, but had the presence of mind to see through the farce. A friend had recommended Gupta to meet Sheikh in Malad last week. Last Sunday, Sheikh visited Gupta at his home. He cut the skin on his leg and took 100 ml of blood in a bottle. “He told me my blood was black in colour as the circulation was blocked, which was the reason for my paralysis. He promised to cure me in a week and asked me to give him Rs 20,000,” explained Gupta, who sensed felt something was fishy. “I decided to give him Rs 1,000 in cash and Rs19,000 as cheque. The moment he left, I informed the police and asked them to help me catch the fraud when he went to the bank to collect his money,” added Gupta.

The arrestThe next day, the police arrested Sheikh when he went to collect the money from the bank. A police officer from Malad police station, on condition of anonymity, said, “The accused cheated people from Kandivli, Malad and Vikhroli. An FIR has been launched and we have seized his wares, which he claimed to use for spiritual healings. Another victim from Kandivli will soon record a statement.”